Thomas McClure, afterward known as “ Squire ” McClure, came to the county from Cumberland in 1799. He made an improvement, but did not bring his family until 1800. Squire McClure was one of the county commissioners at the time the contract for erecting the county buildings was made.1790
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Thomas moved to Clearfield County with his wife Margaret Beyers McClure and his first few children on a property that was given to his father in 1785 for service in the Revolution. The McClure Cemetery is on that property [see Multimedia] and so was the first school house. The post office was located there also before it was moved to Curwensville, Pa.700
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After the [Arthur] Bell’s came Thomas McClure. The McClures were of Scotch-Irish descent. He came from a settlement in Cumberland county, called Tyrone. He, also, came the entire distance in a small canoe. He came in the early part of 1799, and bought a tract of 520 acres of land. Out of this purchase has been carved the farms of Samuel Ardery, Joseph I. Dale, John R. McClure, the Wilson McClure estate, and G. L. Addleman. His first improvement was on the river where the Addleman farm is now located.

In 1802 he opened up a store. This was the first store established in this entire section of country. There is now in possession of his grandson, Lafayette McClure, of Pike township, his original ledger and day book. Before coming here he was in business in Cumberland county. On the first pages of this book the accounts are kept in pounds, shillings and pence. This book contains about three hundred pages. The early settlers came as far as twenty-five miles to buy goods at the store. There was scarcely a man living in the county, previous to 1814 whose name does not appear in this ledger. It is one of the most valuable relics in Clearfield county.

About 1804, Thomas McClure was elected Justice of the Peace, and thereafter he, too, was always spoken of as ’Squire’ McClure. From this time on until his death he did an immense volume of business. Lafayette McClure has also in his possession hundreds of summonses, subpoenas, road viewer’s reports, records of law suits, promissory notes, bonds and various communications from State and National officers.

’Squire’ McClure was an excellent scholar and a good writer. His books were kept with a neatness and accuracy that would put to shame many of the professional bookkeepers of this generation. As a matter of information to this generation we will briefly mention some of the different charges in his day book. Calico is charged at 35 cents per yard, coffee at 25 cents per pound, and wheat at $1.00 per bushel. At that time license for the sale of liquor was never dreamed of. The early settlers all used it. It is a matter of regret that some of their descendants, though it costs ten times as much, are less temperate than their ancestors. Whiskey is charged at 33 cents a gallon, 16 1/2 cents a half gallon and 3 cents a gill, which in those days constituted a drink. To illustrate its almost universal use, even traveling ministers are charged with gallons of whiskey. The ’Squire kept a barrel of the best old rye on tap in the store. A tin was chained to the counter near by and customers buying a bill of goods were invited to take a drink. To this request none refused to respond. Some, who were of the thirsty kind, even filling the tin for a second draught. The ’Squire had occasion to employ a great deal of help. In all cases he gives his hired men credit with 50 cents per day. He also kept boarders. All of these are charged at the rate of seven cents a meal.

In 1818, during the Presidency of James Monroe, he was appointed postmaster at his place. The office was called Pikeville. As a matter of general interest a copy of the original commission is herewith given.

“Return J. Meigs, Jr., Postmaster General of the United States of America, to all who shall see these presents, greeting: Know ye, that confiding in the integrity, ability and punctuality of Thomas McClure, Esq., I do appoint him a postmaster, and authorize him to execute the duties of that office at Pikeville, Clearfield county, and State of Pennsylvania, according to the laws of the United States, and such regulations conformable thereto as he shall receive from me: To hold the said office of postmaster, with all the powers, privileges and emoluments to the same belonging, during the pleasure of the Postmaster General of the United States, for the time being.

“In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of my office to be affixed, at Washington city, the 18th day of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and of the independence of the United States the forty-second.

“R. J. Meigs,
“Postmaster General.
“Registered 8th day of May, 1818,
“Thos. Arbuckle, Clerk.”

This was the only office on the river at that time from Clearfield to Cherry Tree and remained so until 1822, when an office was established at Curwensville, and Wm. McNaul appointed postmaster. Pikeville was continued for some time after this. The mail route was from Bellefonte to Venango, and the mail carrier John P. Dale. At that time record was kept of every letter that was sent out or received at the office. No envelopes were used, the letter being simply stuck together with sealing wax. Postage was charged according to the distance the letter came. A letter from Philadelphia cost 15 cents, and one from Franklin eight cents.1913
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Through [James Moore, Jr.’s] instrumentality religious services were held by Rev. Linn, of Bellefonte.  These services were usually held in Squire McClure's barn.1914 
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The first school-house was erected the same year [1803], at the site of McClure's Cemetery, Pike township.... The first school was taught by Hugh Hall, also in 1804.1372
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The first school, tradition tells us, was taught in 1804 by a Mr. Kelleys near the residence of Thomas McClure, in Pike township.1915
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The first meeting-house was built in the year 1809, and was located at the site of McClure's Cemetery. It was of the Presbyterian faith.1372
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More about McClure Cemetery

Located two miles out in Pike Township many of the early settlers were buried there. Many graves are marked. Unfortunately many are not. The first burial of Robert Cresswell was in 1807. At, or near the cemetery, the first school house in the county was made in 1804. A log meeting house in 1809.672
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This source indicates Thomas was born in Ireland.1916
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Thomas acted in the capacicity of Private, William Black’s Co. 5th Battalion. 1780, Cumberland Co. Pa. Militia.1917

This Thomas McClure is the ancestor of William Lynn Bloom (b. 1881) [Thomas] “who assisted in establishing American Independence, while acting in the capacity of Pvt. 3rd Class - William Blacks Co. 5th Battalion - 1780 Cumperland [sic] Militia.”1918
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There is a Thomas McClure listed among the Revolutionary War Soldiers on an historic marker for the McClure Cemetery. His third great-granddaughter Myrabelle Beatrice Bloom was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution through Thomas. Her DAR certificate indicates he was a Private. See the photo and certificate in Multimedia.3
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The first Post Office in Pike Township was at Pikesville or McClure’s (both names were used) in 1818. Thomas McCliure was postmaster. It was discontinued in 1821 when Curwensville was made a post office with William McNaul as postmaster. Mails at first were carried horseback and later by stage. Stamps came into use in 1847.866
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Thomas McClure, during the Presidency of James Monroe, was appointed Postmaster in 1818. The office was called Pikeville and the only postoffice on the river from Clearfield to Cherry Tree, remaining so till 1821, when Curwensville also had a post office-Pikeville (or McClure's) continued for some time after the Curwensville office was established.

The mail route was from Bellefonte to Venango and John P. Dale was mail carrier. Caleb Bailey Jr., in 1816, carried mail from Bellefonte to Franklin via Clearfield County.

Record was kept of every letter sent out or received at the office. No envelopes were used, the letter being simply folded, then stuck together with sealing wax. Postage was charged according to the distance the letter came, from Philadelphia was 15 cents, and from Franklin, 8 cents. Where the first post office in Curwensville was located is not definitely known. In early days it was usually in the home, store or shop of the Postmaster.1003
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A Thomas McClure was commissioned Justice of the Peace April 1st, 1806 and is among others named in December of 1806 among the 155 taxable inhabitants of Chinklacamoose township, (Centre County) which [at the time] included all of Clearfield county.1919
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Thomas McClure settled on the river about three miles above the present site of Curwensville....

A Thomas McClure is one of the three original Clearfield County commissioners chosen at it’s first election following January 29th, 1822, when the Assembly passed a law organizing Clearfield county as a body politic for all purposes, and authorizing its citizens to elect county officials.1372
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A Thomas McClure came from Cumberland County in 1799, made an improvement near McClure's graveyard, Pike Township, and removed his family thither in 1800.

Squire McClure has been described as "a kind friend, one of the most obliging neighbors, who would at any time incommode himself to accommodate another, and when asked for a favor, he stopped not to inquire `what will it profit me,' but only 'can I grant it.' He lived and died without an enemy.1920
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Religious services [in Clearfield county] were held by Rev. Linn, of Bellefonte. These services were usually held in Squire McClure's barn.1921